Seal for ice making compartments



` Feb. 23, 1932. M, c, TERRY 1,847,026

SEAL FOR ICE MAKING COMPARTMEN'IS Filed Feb. e, 1929 ATToNEY l INVENTOR Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATEN OFI-fica MATSON C. TERRY, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION'OF PENNSYLVANIA l SEAL FOR ICE MAKING COMPARTMENTS Application filed February 6, 1929. Serial No. 337,996.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to refrigerating apparatus of the houshold type.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for effectively sealing the open end of the freezing compartment which is located inside the refrigerator cabinet for the purpose of increasing the rate of freezing of substances contained in the compartment.

A further object is to provide means for sealing the freezing compartment, which means shall operate simultaneously with one4 llt has been proposed to use a separate cover for the freezing compartment which carries the ice-forming trays in a mechanically cooled refrigerator cabinet. Such closures as have heretofore been proposed have been hinged to the compartment, have been bodily removable, a handle being provided for this purpose, or have been carried by the tray itself, the tray fitting into a sleeve.

Hinged covers must, however, be opened and closed by hand every time a tray is removed or inserted` and if the cover is not closed before the cabinet door is shut, it may be broken or bent. A cover which must be bodily removed by a handle is necessarily an inconvenience, and there is always a chance that the person removing the same will not replace it before closing the door of the cabinet, while closures carried by the trays themselves have a tendency to freeze to the sleeve containing the tray, and at the bestl provide an imperfect seal.

My invention provides a closure for the freezing compartment which is resiliently' ment whenever the door is closed, A sealing gasket may be provided on the closure so that in addition to bein closed, the freezing compartment is eectlvely sealed, the resilient mounting of the closure causing the gasket to be passed firmly against the open end of the compartment.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein a specific form of the invention is shown, 10 designates a refrigerator cabinet having a storage chamber 11. A door 12 is provided for closing the storage chamber. The storage chamber is cooled by the heat absorbing unit 13 of a mechanical refrigerating apparatus, the heat dissipating unit (not shown) being mounted in any suitable location, for example, on top of the box, and is enclosed by a casing 14.

The heat absorbing unit 13 may be a brine tank containing refrigerating coils or may be of the direct cooling type, and enclosed by a suitable casing, or may' be any other type. The particular form of heat absorbing unit employed is not material to the invention.

A freezing compartment 15, having an open end, is provided in the heat absorbing unit and is adapted to receive trays 16 for containing substances to be chilled or frozen.v

Racks 17, on which the trays slide, may be provided interiorly of the freezing compartment. I

I provide a panel 18, resilient-ly mounted on `the door 11, for closing the freezing compartment. This panel may be of any material, preferably one having good insulating qualities. The mounting means comprises a plurality of studs19, four of which are 4shown linthe drawings, rigidly fastened, as

by welding, to the door lining. Sleeves 20 provided on the panel slide over the studs 19, and springs 21 are provided between the door and the panel and surrounding each of the telescopic joints thus formed. These springs press the panel outwardly from the door. A bolt 22, also rigidlyv fastened to the door lining, projects through an opening 28 provided' in the panel, and is screw-threaded at its outer end to receive a nut 24. This boltand cooperating nut serve to limit the outward movement of the panel.

The side of the panel adjacent the freezing compartment is provided with a resilient gasket 25 at its outer edge.

When the door 12 is closed and held by the cooperating latch members 26 and 27, the gasket 25 is pressed against the heat absorbing unit, adjacent the open end of the freezing compartment, by means of the springs 21, the gasket effectively sealing the opening, and the panel serving as a closure for the freezing compartment.

It will be apparent that I have provided a closure for the freezing compartment of a mechanical refrigerating apparatus which is entirely automatic in its operation and effectively and positvely seals the opening of the compartment whenever the cabinet door is closed.

While I have disclosed a specific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a freezing compartmet, a door for said cabinet, and means carried by the door for sealing said compartmenta when the door is closed. Y v

2. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a freezing compartment, a door for said cabinet, and resilient means carried by the door for sealing said compartment when the door is closed.

3. A refrigerator cabinet containing an evaporator, said evaporator including a freezing compartment having an open end for the reception of trays and a closure carried by the door for sealing said compartment.

4. A refrigerator cabinet containing an evaporator, said evaporator including a freezing compartment having an open end for the reception of trays,resilient means for sealing said compartment, and a door for said cabinet, said resilient means being carried by the door., Y Y

5. In combination, a 'refrigerator cabinet, an open-ended freezing compatment within the cabinet, a door for the cabinet, resilient means carried by the door for closing the `freezing compartment, and means for limiting the movement of the resilient means.

6. A refrigerator cabinet provided with a food storage compartment and a freezing compartment, each of said com artments being provided with openings lacing in the same direction, a common closure member being so constructed and arranged as to seal,

when in its closed position, both the food compartment and the freezing compartment from the atmosphere external to the cabinet and also to seal the freezing compartment MATSON C. TERRY. 

